IDF Gets New Torah on Chanukah

Young Jews from around the world donate 188th Torah scroll to the IDF on Chanukah.

Maayana Miskin, 12/12/10 17:25 | updated: 17:44

Torah scroll (illustrative)

Israel radio photo

The IDF had an extra reason to celebrate on Chanukah as young Jews in Israel and abroad donated another Torah scroll. The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) and the International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region (IYIM) gave the Torah scroll – the 188th scroll that the groups have donated over the past 12 years.

The new Torah scroll was dedicated on the eighth night of Chanukah in a ceremony that included candle lighting, song, dance, and donuts. It will be used in the IDF base in Ofra, north of Jerusalem.

The Young Israel Torah scroll project uses old scrolls from Diaspora synagogues to help young soldiers in Israel. Scrolls that are damaged or worn out and are no longer used are repaired and rededicated and brought to Israel, where they are used in IDF bases around the country.

Project coordinators say they have another 90 scrolls, all of them pre-Holocaust Torah scrolls from eastern Europe, that they hope to use in the IDF Torah project.

“The National Council of Young Israel is proud to be the conduit for so many Young Israel and non Young Israel synagogues in the USA and Canada to send our IDF soldiers a Torah scroll for their daily and Shabbat needs,” said Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner. “These soldiers put their lives on the line every day to protect their people and land, this is the very least we can do. It is indeed an honor.”